Disclaimer: Nothing has changed. Except my grades, which are steadily going downhill.
A/N: Thanks to Jess for pointing out that Spence is 24, not 25! The episode that that was cited in was before I really watched the show. Thanks again!
The car ride to number 76 Fairview Drive was an exceptionally silent one. When the two members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit pulled into the driveway, neither spoke, both opting to sit there in silence.
"So," Tina said finally, shattering the minutes of quiet, "What should I call you?"
Spencer, for all his superior intellect, was caught off guard.
"What?"
"Dr. Reid, Spencer, something else? How do you want me to refer to you?"
Spencer evaded the question with one of his own.
"If you don't mind me asking, I noticed you always refer to people by their title and last name. Is there a reason?"
Tina smiled, glad for an excuse to stay in the car longer.
"Sure. My father was in the Army. When I was growing up, he taught me to always address my superiors with respect." she grinned again, gazing fondly out the window. "All my teachers loved me for it... As time went on, I guess it just became second nature for me to do that. What about you? I noticed you don't refer to anyone by their first name, even though you work with them."
She was greeted with silence.
"All right, I won't pry." At that moment, she spotted an uniformed officer walking in their direction. As she stepped out of the car, Tina added, "Tina."
Spencer paused what he was doing.
"Call me Tina." she flashed him a grin, knowing he would have never asked.
"All right," he whispered, only loud enough for himself to hear. They began to walk toward the uniform in silence. When they were still just out of an ear shot, he said, "Spencer."
"What?" Tina hadn't been paying attention.
"Spencer. That's what you should call me." He looked away quickly, clearly embarrassed. Tina grinned widely.
"All right, but don't hold it against me if I slip, okay?"
Spencer was saved from answering as, at that moment, they arrived in front of the uniformed officer. Tina took initiative
"I'm Agent Hutchinson, this is Dr. Reid, from B.A.U. What do you have for us?"
"This way." The uniform gestured for the agents to follow him into the house.
At first glance, it would seem as if the house was one in which nothing terrible could ever happen in. The exterior was painted a vibrant shade of blue, the shutters in a matching hue of purple. A large flower garden occupied the majority of the front yard, giving the entire place the look of something out of someone's happy place. The inside proved the same.
Upon entering the front door, visitors were greeted with a well-lit environment and cheery decor. Flowers and other potted plants sat in pots and vases throughout the house, giving the illusion of a greenhouse.
The kitchen was no different than the rest of the interior. The refrigerator was covered in papers done by children held on by magnets. Drawing, school papers, report cards, it was all there. Even the dishes waiting to be dried were organized.
The children's rooms seemed normal enough, as well. The girl's was as the room of a girl's her age would typically be - covered in posters of boy bands and cute animals. Tina shuddered as she recalled the phase in her life when she too liked those things before moving onto the boy's room. Sports trophies and an outdated computer sat on the shelves and desk, the floor littered with various types of action figures. To the casual observer, it would seem like this family was completely normal, excluding the affinity for green.
But it was Spencer and Tina's job to know differently. Something had gone horribly wrong in that house and it was up to them to figure out what.
"Um, Spencer?" Tina said, distractedly as she avoided running into yet another Crime Scene Unit member, "What do we do if we want the CSUs gone?"
Spencer looked at her, perplexed.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want them touching everything. It's kinda anal, but I want everything exactly where it was when the deaths occurred." she stated, snatching a piece of paper from someone's hands.
"I... don't know. Maybe we should call Gideon." Spencer suggested.
"No." Tina rejected the idea immediately. "If we call him, he's going to think that we can't handle this on our own. And that is just not acceptable. Any other bright ideas in that genius head of yours?"
Spencer leaned against the kitchen table, deep in thought.
"We could just ask them to leave." he said after a moment of pondering.
"That might just work," Tina exclaimed happily. Her tone, however, quickly changed. "Except for the part where they won't."
"Don't be so sure about that." Spencer said. Tina could swear there was a maniac twinkle in his eyes when he vocalized the words. "You forget that we're with the FBI."
Tina's face lit up with joy.
"Spence, you rock!" She had to work very hard in order to not hug him. Spencer turned a brilliant shade of red at the praise and use of nickname, and looked away quickly. Tina didn't notice, however, as she was busy issuing an ultimatum.
"All right, I want everybody out! Yeah, that's right, out. You heard me."
The declaration was met with a series of strange looks. It was evident that most of the people in the house were beginning to think that this new addition was one who should be locked up in an asylum.
"Are you all deaf? I said out!" She gesticulated toward the door, looking annoyed. A few of the Crime Scene Unit members muttered something under their breath and made their way out, only to be stopped by their seniors.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A heavyset woman with a thick Southern accent approached Tina and Spencer, looking rather angry.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Tina shot. "I'm getting rid of your people before they contaminate my crime scene!"
"Contaminate your crime scene?" the woman screeched. "Do you realize what our job is here?"
"Damn straight I do, and the last time I checked, the rules stated if the CSU is impairing the investigation of a federal agency, the aforementioned federal agency holds the right to tell them to get the hell out at any time." Tina smirked snidely. "Comprende?"
The woman looked infuriated.
"Do you realize that by telling us to leave, you are potentially forfeiting any chance you have of making a case in court based on material evidence?"
"I'm not an idiot. Of course I know that. The real question here is do you know that federal agents are trained in doing the exact same thing you people are, only better? If there is any forensic evidence around, Dr. Reid here and I will take care of it. Now get the hell out before I call your superior!"
The woman glared at Tina, struggling to find the right words to say in retaliation. When she failed, she stomped her foot in a childish manner and shouted "Fine!" before storming out of the house.
Once they were all gone, Tina breathed a sigh of relief as she sank against the refrigerator.
"Thank God they're gone. If I had to watch one more incompetent idiot make a mess of my crime scene, I would've..." she trailed off at the look on Spencer's face. "What?"
"Nothing." he said quickly. "I've just never seen anyone do something like that before."
Tina gave him a thin-lipped smile.
"Well, you better get used to it."
They stood there in silence for a moment longer. Finally, Tina broke the silence.
"So, now that those imbeciles are gone, let's get started on this, shall we?"
Spencer nodded in agreement and followed her up the stairs.
All right, I'm going to give you guys a choice - Either you can get frequent, short chapters or longer ones less frequently. The way you answer determines when the next chapter will be up. Peace!